There are mixed feelings for students who are heading back to class this week., with all of the changes due to COVID-19.
Psychiatrist Dr. Linda Hoyt says it is normal to have feelings of uneasiness, but it’s important to find ways of managing them, “Asking these questions, getting the answers you need could be helpful but also looking after yourself, looking after your kids. There are a lot of good things about them being back at school, with their friends. Being back in a learning environment, they really need to be able to get that back in their lives.”
Dr. Hoyt says students who need support, there are school personnel available to help connect them with services, “They can contact school personnel anytime and they can help connect them with services. Students that really need support from mental health support teams can attend school more regularly if they need to.”
Parents may also be feeling stressed about having their children in school during the pandemic. Dr. Hoyt says it is normal to worry, but it’s important you find ways to manage your anxieties, “It is really important that we are there for our children but the better we take of ourselves, the better we can take care of them. So be sure to practice self care, take some time to unwind if you can, eat well and exercise.”
Students are returning to schools this week on a staggered entry, in an effort to educate them on the new procedures in place due to COVID-19.
